This Arizona chapter travels together to places both near and far.
By Clint Smith, F245135
January 2020
The Tucson Drifters chapter is known for traveling farther and more often than many other FMCA clubs. In spite of that, our motto is, “It’s not where you go, but who you go with.”
It is a motto that keeps us together. We celebrated our 20th anniversary at the recent Rocky Mountain Area Rally, known as the Rocky Mountain Ramble, October 17-20, 2019. Festivities included a block party for nearly 100 people; a super local band; and entertainment from one of our own chapter members, Paul Spaeth. We demonstrate Southwestern hospitality wherever we go.
We hold seven rallies each year, from October to May. If you like to travel, we are your group. Sight-seeing, museums, good food, good times, and best of all, good fellowship are part of our “package.” Excitement and adventure are always the primary goal.
In November 2018, some Tucson Drifters donned wetsuits and helmets and took an underwater walk at OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Past rallies have included caravan trips where we’ve traveled from Arizona to Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Missouri. The annual rally schedule often includes four days at Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Mexico. Shorter, three- to five-day rallies have included visits to towns in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, and California. We have done several tours on cruise ships as well.
For our 2019-2020 rally season, we included a New Year’s celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada. For February 2020, we will have a Valentine’s ball and dinner. March will see us at the FMCA convention in Tucson.
In April and May 2020, we’re holding our 26-day “Mighty Mississippi River Spring Foliage Rally.” We will caravan to Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana. We do all of our own planning. This one includes lodging, 44 events, and 13 meals together, all at a very modest price.
We are just starting to plan our exciting 2020-2021 rally season and you could be a part of it. Join our 55 member families as we explore. It’s easiest to get to know us by coming to one of our chapter dinners. We host seven dinners each year at a local facility, where guests and prospective members have an opportunity to enjoy a good meal, learn about our rallies, or get information about RV repair and meet new friends.
You do not have to live in Arizona to join us. And we welcome owners of towable RVs as well as motorhomes. To learn more, visit our website, www.tucsondrifters.org, or contact Linda Salfen, (520) 219-2896; chapter president Suzi Bass, (520) 544-7752; or vice president of planning Ruth Roubal at (520) 907-4980; tucsonc21@aol.com.
For general information about FMCA chapters, contact the Chapter Services Department at (513) 474-3622 or (800) 543-3622; chapters@fmca.com.
If you would like your chapter to be featured in Chapter Spotlight, contact FRV associate editor Peggy Jordan, (800) 543-3622, ext. 212; pjordan@fmca.com.